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Bad Words

R Released Mar 28, 2014 1h 25m Comedy Drama List
66% Tomatometer 134 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman), a 40-year-old misanthrope, makes waves at a regional spelling bee when, due to a loophole in the rules, he is allowed to enter -- and later wins. Hurling insults at every turn, Guy advances to the national contest in Los Angeles, accompanied by a reporter (Kathryn Hahn) who wants to discover his hidden motives for entering the bee. As the competition gears up, friendless Guy inexplicably forms a bond with a young speller who is feeling parental pressure to win.
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Critics Consensus

Scabrously funny and gleefully amoral, Bad Words boasts one of Jason Bateman's best performances -- and proves he's a talented director in the bargain.

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Critics Reviews

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Wesley Morris Grantland I didn't like anything about the movie before discovering what Guy is up to. I actively hated it after I figured out what was actually going on. Apr 3, 2014 Full Review Robert Everett-Green Globe and Mail The laughs in this film are all mean-spirited or just frat-boy gross. Rated: 1/4 Mar 28, 2014 Full Review Peter Howell Toronto Star Almost unrelenting in its takedown both of an American institution and the country's obsession with victories big and small, Bad Words is more misanthropic fantasy than satiric fiction. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 27, 2014 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Bad Words casts a hilarious spell. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 2, 2020 Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site The representation of super-focused oddballs in Bateman's film is not terribly intriguing. Aug 13, 2020 Full Review Damond Fudge KCCI (Des Moines, IA) Bad Words is utterly wrong in all the right ways ... a small movie with a huge mouth. When you aren't laughing, you'll find yourself smiling at its sweetness. Jun 29, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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cbcguy Hilarious from start to finish and had some heart towards the end, Jason Bateman killed it in this movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/24 Full Review Dirk D 2014 was apparently the last gasp of a world that could stand to look at itself with clear eyes and say ***ksucker. That moment lives in this movie, while we go on to live in a winter of Disney. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/29/23 Full Review J P Wow, what a paper thin, predictable movie. I had high expectations for a film that could have been so much better. Terrible editing, unrealistic plot, an inappropriate "friendship" and it rips off a few other movies. Jason Bateman mumbles his way through a flimsy film that seems to begin in the middle. A HUGE disappointment. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Perfect movie. When movies had balls. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/08/23 Full Review Rose D Pretty good. Jason Bateman plays against type and the overall conceit of the movie is deliciously irreverent. I thought the ending could have been more interesting and would have elevated the narrative overall. Some witty banter, some cheeky bad-boy Bateman and a boring ending. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/15/23 Full Review Sean M Bad Words directed by, produced by, and stars Jason Bateman in his very charmingly jerky character that feels wrong to love, but makes you anyways. Bad Words shows a very important message of not repeating history in a way that has been done before, but not like this. The movie gives the view of a selfishly angry middle-aged man trying to take the crown as a national champion in a spelling bee, what makes this movie so special is how every single evil moment and every subjective comment leaves you feeling a weird sense of joy with an ending that mostly wraps everything up in a way that leaves you smiling. Bad Words although uses standard messaging, creates its own with it and leaves a grin spanning from ear to ear. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Bad Words

Bad Words: Official Clip - A Little Liar Bad Words: Official Clip - A Little Liar 3:15 Bad Words: Official Clip - These Are Not Light Pants Bad Words: Official Clip - These Are Not Light Pants 2:47 Bad Words: Official Clip - Chaitanya the Champion Bad Words: Official Clip - Chaitanya the Champion 2:38 Bad Words: Official Clip - Like an Elephant's Trunk Bad Words: Official Clip - Like an Elephant's Trunk 1:53 Bad Words: Official Clip - Give These To Your Mother Bad Words: Official Clip - Give These To Your Mother 2:38 Bad Words: Official Clip - Take Him Out! Bad Words: Official Clip - Take Him Out! 2:10 Bad Words: Official Clip - Insults and Nipples Bad Words: Official Clip - Insults and Nipples 3:16 Bad Words: Official Clip - Don't Look at Me Bad Words: Official Clip - Don't Look at Me 2:20 Bad Words: Official Clip - Misspelling Bee Bad Words: Official Clip - Misspelling Bee 3:05 Bad Words: Official Clip - Autofellatio Bad Words: Official Clip - Autofellatio 1:46 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman), a 40-year-old misanthrope, makes waves at a regional spelling bee when, due to a loophole in the rules, he is allowed to enter -- and later wins. Hurling insults at every turn, Guy advances to the national contest in Los Angeles, accompanied by a reporter (Kathryn Hahn) who wants to discover his hidden motives for entering the bee. As the competition gears up, friendless Guy inexplicably forms a bond with a young speller who is feeling parental pressure to win.
Director
Jason Bateman
Producer
Jason Bateman, Mason Novick, Sean McKittrick, Jeff Culotta
Screenwriter
Andrew Dodge
Distributor
Focus Features
Production Co
Darko Entertainment, MXN Entertainment, Aggregate Films
Rating
R (Crude and Sexual Content|Brief Nudity|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 28, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 21, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.8M
Runtime
1h 25m
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